Apparatus for punching- designs in



; UNITED PATENT OEEICE- wM. fr. RUDD, or AMSTERDAM, vrnenvia.`

LArrAitrvrus FOR PUNCHING DESIGNS EIN SHEET METAL.

i ISpeccaton of Letters Patent No; 8`,21,1,dated` July 8, 185

To" all whom t mar/.concern e Be it known that I, WILLIAM T.` RUDD, ofAmsterdam, inthe county Vof Botetourt the Stateof Virginia, haveinvented a new and lImproved Modeof Puncturing `Designs in Thin Sheets,of All Kinds lof Metals; and I do hereby declare that the following is`a full and exact description thereof, reference being had `,to `theaccompanying drawings and to the` letters of reference marked thereon.`I y y Figure 1 is a view` of a frame containing two rollers throughwhich the design puncturer, is run. Fig. 2, a view of a plate set withsteel punches showinga star within anoblong square. Fig. 3, a leatherbed or die, the cover ofthe plate, having the same gure on it.

Description cmd mode of construction.w To enableothers skilled in theart to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe itsconstruction and mode of operation in detail.`

Fig. 1: Ais a frame, of wood or metal, consisting of side pieces unitedat top and bottom by strong cross pieces. Near the middle, both frontand back, are two rests running from sideto side of A. B B are tworollers. The lower one works on boltsl set in each end, and resting" inboxes square or round set in the sides of A. The upper one is "arrangedin the same manner, with the exception of a handle to turn it on theright of A. The rollers are near the center of the sides of A with`space enough between them to permit the punctures to beirun` through.Any kind of a frame will answer,provided it is furnished with tworollers and rests as above described. I am not particular in' respect tothis, and deem it unnecessary to `give any further description, but,will proceed to describe the parts of the drawings composing what I terma design puncturer.

Fig. 2: C is a plate of metal, or block of metal faced wood, of anythickness at pleasure, having one or two handles or without any. Andpunches set to show the figure of-a star within an oblong border. Thereare six holes near thehandle for the purpose of securing the leather, E,by flat bolts. D are punches of `tough steel rounding to a point orchisel shaped. These punches I set to represent stars, flowers, ships,scenery, &c. I also contemplate having them movable, and so that I canset them up to form any pattern, preserving them in their properpositions screw or screws, pressing `against `a plate of iron actingdirectly on `them, orotherw1se.E is `a piece of' thick leather`,vas longand as wide as itis intended to have `the plate orblock of metal "facedwooda The leather is laid on the top of the punches and the part nearthehandle `(if` there lshould be one) lis secured by fiat bolts. Theleather is run between the rollers which lower or under side. Theleather die or `bedis now complete.,` e e Nature of my aoeaz'owThc`nature of my invention consists in leather beds or dies, in combinationwith a set of punches, for puncturing purposes, `when such set ofpunches andthe die, are used in connection with proper rollers, as inthis instance.` The advantages of the leather are as follows: First, theleather is cheaper and more readily procured vin the country than leadplates. Second, the leather is more pliable than lead, or wood whenrollers are used. Thirdly, the frequent bending or raising and closingof the leather, `will not breakf it 0E while it would lead.`Fourthly,the leather can be impressed with thel figure at oneoperation, while it would take several seconds to make each impressionof the points of the punches, separately, by hand, in the lead. Fifthly,the

Ileather possesses an elastic property absotrouble.` `Furthermore, iflead was used between rollers, the pressure would be calculated to pressit'out of proportion and cause it to require constant repair, whichwould be both expensiveand annoying. lThe leather,

as `experience has proven, is not injured by any amount` of pressurethat is required to puncture sheets. Again, beds of plate lead,

will not answer for rollers, as great pressure will always crack them,this is a strong obE jection to its use with rollers. Leather, is

best fitted for the rollers, and any machine which obtains its powerfrom any other source than rollers, must be larger and stronger (andmore expensive) to withstand the additionalforce requisite to producethe puncturing. Seventhly, lead as well as wood, when used inverticalpressing for beds or dies, require the power to act instantly.

e e e5 leaves `the impression ofthe punches, on its Wood wears too soonand would require constant replacing. With leather, this is not t-hecase, and, the pressure of the rollers' being applied to it gradually asit passes through them gives it the preference. And lastly, the leatherhas been on trial for siX months, and has been found to answer bet-terthan any other substance, while lead, or wood could not be used betweenrollers to advantage. The leather has its peculiar claims andadvantages, and cannot be said to be a mere substitution, all otherthings failing to produce the same result when rollers were used.

Mode of operation of' the design, punie* turen-Sheets, of any kind ofthin metals, are placed between the under part of the leather E, and,the upper part of the steel punches D. The leather die is then presseddown, or held at front by the right hand while the puncture is runthrough the rollers B, B.

The part of the die where it is secured to the plate C, is put under therollers first. This holds the sheet (one being put in for puncturing ata time) firmly till drawn through by the revolution of the rollers. Alittle oil may be used to grease the under part of the leather, thisassists the sheets to leave the punches without trouble.

What I claim as my invent-ion and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is,

The leather bed or die, in combination with a set of punches forpuncturing purposes, when such set of punches and the die are used inconnection with proper rollers substantially in the manner and for thepurposes herein set forth.

WM. T. RUDD.

Witnesses:

W'M. HUToHIsoN, JAS. M. D. MOFFETT.

